US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Question on booking FF rewards?

First of let me say I think all you guys are great at answering many question's. I am new to Flyertalk, and find this sight very informative. Thank you All.
Now my question. I want to book 3 FF award tickets from PIT to Las Vegas. I wanted three tickets for Sept.28 - Oct 5, 2003. These are Sunday's departure and return. I was told by one agent that these dates are not available, and will not become available, or they would be in the system now. Not sure I believe this. I have 3 ticket's on hold till Wednesday, for dates I really don't want. They are Friday Sept 26, and returning Monday Oct 6th. Both are arriving and departing a little before midnight. Bad time for us. What do you experts advise that I should do? Hold out for 3 award tickets that would suit out dates,and take a chance of not getting any or book now? This is off season and I only need to use 20 miles a ticket. Also if I book now is there a penalty to cancel or can I change the tickets if the dates I want become available, and what is the penality to change tickets? Thanks for all the imput!

I would take the award seats offered and try to change the flights later. With e-award-booking coming, you could check daily for availabaility. I don't believe US charges anything to change an eticket award, but ask them. American introduced a $100 change fee on awards.

You may actually want to check the actual price of these tix if you were to buy them...you may find that it's actually cheaper valuwise to purchase them then to waste the value of your miles....LAS is usually a fairly cheap market.

People will keep saying that but I also know that PIT-LAS can be expensive. I've redeemed four awards for it and been happy with the value I get -- more money for the casinos, I guess. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I would wait, personally, but it depends on how important the trip is for those dates. I'm always flexible in going to Vegas..

Thanks every one for your replys. My date is set. as we own timeshare for that week
in Las Vegas. I will have to pay for 3 extra nights lodging if I keep this reward that is on hold. Im concerned about getting 3 tickets at the same time, for later if I give this up. Tickets for Pit To Las Vegas are usually around $350. - $400. We didn't go last year because when we needed to go they were $600. each. Any other suggestion out there, as I have to book this by Wednesday?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ljane:
Tickets for Pit To Las Vegas are usually around $350. - $400. We didn't go last year because when we needed to go they were $600. each. Any other suggestion out there, as I have to book this by Wednesday?</font>

I just checked ITA and United came up at $248 with a variety of departure times. Its certainly not under $200, but its cheap enough to make you think about using the miles elsewhere.

Travelocity is currently showing your dates at $230 on united. If you travel on other dates the fare drops to $170.